Nov 28, 2015 | lloyd williams | 698 views
ROLLER COASTER SEASON
Well folks, it's been a while since an article was posted and to be honest....it's not easy to come with something to write all the time. It is particularly difficult when we lose, what am I supposed to write when we have games like Simcoe and Caledonia where we play exceptional and then others like the two against Delhi....they were absolutely terrible.....OOPS, backspace? Naaah, it's the truth, they just didn't have the drive or work ethic to win those ones and the better team came out on top. Like the headline says it's been roller coaster of a season and no matter how they play on the ice we have a GREAT bunch of kids.
The skill level of the kids may vary but one thing they have all proven to have is a great team spirit and while they may have there disagreements once in a while they are truly teammates. When they want to win they can beat anybody, except maybe Stayner that team is exceptional.
Following our tournament in Lucan we came home to face Delhi, not my favourite opponent by any stretch of the imagination, and it was obvious that the kids left it all on the ice in Lucan. After two periods it looked as if we were going to hang in there and hopefully pick up an ugly goal but the tanks ran empty as the entire team seemed to deflate and the wall in front of the mesh crumbled as Delhi pounded the net for 6 more goals in the 3rd period. The fist time and so far the last time in league play that we would allow more than 3 goals in a single game.
The kids got a break after that game with a full week off, aside from practices, and the fire was lit again as these little Hawks weathered the Storm and came out on top 4 - 3, not missing any opportunities to score. It was a thriller of a game and the kids proved again what a little "want" can do. The following night we traveled down the road to Norwich and although Norwich is not a strong team our Wings looked clipped again as it took everything they had to beat the Storm. A couple of early goals is all Nolan would need as he stood strong between the pipes protecting the lead his team deserved to keep and we headed home with our first streak in league play this season.
Two weeks off and the Leafs blew in from Langton, it was obvious that they were still bitter about being swept aside in Lucan as they battled hard but with fresh legs and plenty of confidence there was no way Langton was going to get on the board this evening. Last game before the Silver Stick had us travelling to Paris and we knew this one would be tough. It was a good game from start to finish and everyone played well again but the Referee's stole the game on this one........final score Paris 1 - Hawks 1 Paris Referee's 2....not sure if that will get me in trouble but again...it's the truth.
Then on to the Silver Stick, what a great time we had........off the ice that is, on the ice not so good but that may not the kids fault. They played good in the first game but the next two games would see us get outplayed as the scoreboard certainly indicated and the shots on goal....62 - 16. The shots kept coming when Caledonia came to town, Nolan Williams was on his game this night as Caledonia relentlessly peppered the net but the puck must have looked like a beachball as he turned away shot after shot and held the highest scoring team in the league to just 3 goals as the shot total climbed to 93 for the opposition to 28 for the Hawks. Then this ride picks up momentum again.........going into the third period of this game a few of the kids commented about Nolans play in this game and they must have been inspired. They looked as if they traded in their blades for wings and started to fly, clearing the puck clean and keeping the puck in the opposition end. Shots may have been limited but the effort was there and once again beat by the Ref as a puck that was clearly in was waived off, even the opposition argued to the ref that the puck was in but.....NO GOAL.
We travelled to Ingersoll the next night for a battle with the 3rd place team in Southern Counties, and WOW can those Hawks fly. Every kid played amazing and Tyler Matthews was on fire as he convincingly fired the puck into the mesh for a hat trick. This was definitely the players game as they flew around the express like they were standing still, our defense wasn't going to be outdone this night and the controlled the play. Nolan skated to the bench after two periods of play and told me he was bored because his team was playing so well. I didn't receive a shot total for that game but I'm certain were well atop the home team in shots this time, let's all hope we can keep soaring as we head into Six Nations and Burford the next couple of days.